They are going to take the stand. The parents of little Maëlys, Jennifer and Joachim De Araujo, now separated, are invited to testify, Monday, February 7, at the trial of Nordahl Lelandais. The former dog handler has been on trial since January 31 before the Isère Assize Court for the murder of their daughter, who had disappeared during a wedding in August 2017 in Pont-de-Beauvoisin (Isère). Follow the audience live.
A portrait of Maelys. On the first day of the trial, the family of the girl killed in August 2017, her parents and her sister, arrived in court with the portrait of the 8-year-old girl in their hands. Jennifer De Araujo kept it on throughout the week, including during the hearing.
Nordahl Lelandais’ apologies, an “insult”. As soon as the hearing opened, the accused spoke to Maëlys’ family to apologize.. “I did kill Maelys. I did not want. I will explain the facts during the hearing”, did he declare. “I consider his apologies as an insult to the memory of Maëlys, an insult to the respect of this little girl who had not asked for anything. I took it very badly”, reacted Joachim De Araujo, Monday, in The Parisian.
A plural personality. During the first week of the trial, Nordahl Lelandais’ multiple and compartmentalized personality emerged. The 38-year-old former soldier and his defense have endeavored to demonstrate an evolution since his incarceration, at the end of the personality examination. But elements paid into the debate have come to weaken this version.